The scholars quoted in his biography some stories that are indicative of his righteousness and asceticism (may Allah have mercy on him). One of the most famous of the scholars who narrated that is al-Haafiz Abu Nu‘aym in his great book Hilyat al-Awliya’. One of the reports (2/79) he narrated is that from Abu Nadrah, from Usayr ibn Jaabir, who said:
A muhaddith (hadith scholar) in Kufa used to narrate to us, and when he had finished his talk he would say: You may leave now. A few people would remain behind, among whom was a man who would start speaking in such a way that I had never heard anyone speak before, and I liked it. One day he did not come, so I said to my companions: Do you know a man who used to sit with us (and I described him)? Someone said: Yes, I know him; that is Uways al-Qarni. I said: Do you know where he lives? He said: Yes. So I went with him until I came to his room, and he came out to me. I said: O my brother, what kept you away from us? He said: Not having clothes. His companions used to make fun of him and bother him. I said: Take this cloak and wear it. He said: Do not do that, for if they see it, they will bother me. But I kept on at him until he put it on and came out to them, and they said: Who did he cheat to get this cloak? So he came and took it off and said: Do you see?
I went to the people and said: What do you want from this man? Why are you bothering him? Sometimes the man has no clothes to wear and sometimes he does. And I rebuked them in a very harsh manner. End quote.
Fourthly:
Many words full of light, wisdom and admonition have been narrated from Uways.
It was narrated that Sufyaan ath-Thawri said: Uways had a cloak that touched the ground when he sat down, and he used to say:
O Allah, I offer my apology to You for every hungry stomach and unclothed body, but I own nothing in this world except what is on my back and in my stomach. End quote.
Narrated by al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak (3/458)
He (may Allah have mercy on him) also said, encouraging people to fear Allah and remember that He is always watching:
Fear the punishment of Allah as if you are guilty of having killed all the people. End quote.
Narrated by al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak (3/458)
It was narrated that Asbagh ibn Zayd said:
Uways al-Qarni would say when evening came: This night is for bowing, and he would bow until morning came. And he would say when (another) evening came: This night is for prostrating, and he would prostrate until morning came. And when (another) evening came, he would give in charity all that was surplus in his house of food and clothing, then he would say: O Allah, whoever dies hungry, do not take me to task for it, and whoever dies unclothed, do not take me to task for it. End quote.
Narrated by Abu Nu‘aym in Hilyat al-Awliya’ (2/87). The words “he would bow until morning came… he would prostrate until morning came” mean that he would bow at length in prayer until morning came, then on another night he would prostrate at length in prayer until morning came.
It was narrated that ash-Sha‘bi said:
A man from Muraad passed by Uways al-Qarni and said: How are you this morning? He said: I am this morning praising Allah. He said: How is life with you? He said: How is life with a man who, in the morning, thinks that he will not live until evening comes, and in the evening, he thinks that he will not live until morning comes, and he will either be given glad tidings of Paradise or tidings of Hellfire? O man of Muraad, death and remembrance of death do not leave any moment of joy for the believer; his knowledge of the rights of Allah did not leave him any of his wealth; and his standing up for the truth did not leave him any friends. End quote.
Hilyat al-Awliya’ (2/83); also narrated by al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak (3/458)
Fifthly:
Most of the scholars are of the view that he died on the Day of Siffeen in 37 AH, when he fought alongside ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib (may Allah be pleased with him) and he was martyred there. Al-Haakim narrated that in al-Mustadrak (3/460) with an isnaad going back to Shareek ibn ‘Abdullah, ‘Abd ar-Rahmaan ibn Abi Layla and others.
Other scholars stated that he went on campaign to Azerbaijan and was martyred there. See: Hilyat al-Awliya’ (2/83)
But the former is the view of the majority.
And Allah knows best.
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